Turkey ... Eggman ... tweeting ... just take the raw material and run with it.

Turkeys are neither native to California nor city dwellers. Scratch that. Prehistoric turkeys inhabited California. They are long gone.

Ranchers introduced East Coast turkeys to California in 1877. The state Department of Fish and Game tried introducing them for decades, presumably as a game bird.

Finally, the turkey took hold. It now inhabits around 29,000 square miles of California, mostly central coast and foothills, woodlands and meadows, where after a hard day's foraging, they can fly up into trees and roost in safety for the night. Which is probably why the turkey likes Victory Park.

San Joaquin County is not part of the turkey's California range. Though there's a flock up at Lake Camanche. And if they do hang out, their preferred habitat is vineyards or farms.

"I think what's really unique about the bird in Stockton, lo and behold, it's become an urban bird," said David Yee, a local Audubon Society bird expert.

One of the bird's favorite stops is a pickup owned by neighborhood resident Frank Garcia. Garcia works graveyard, so his pickup is out front all day.

"Oh, my gosh. I love that thing," said Frank's wife, Mary Garcia.

But Frank ... not so much. His silver GMC Sierra is shiny and clean until the turkey comes around.

"Frank, he gets so mad," said Mary Garcia. "He shoos the thing away. And it just walks right back. It's hilarious. It's like they're arguing."

Back to William Bates. "I like it. It brings something new to Stockton. It's kind of a nice thing to see." He added, "By this time next year there could be a whole bunch of 'em."

Yes, well, about that ... "Adult wild turkeys, which can weigh upward of 20 pounds, can destroy flowers and vegetable gardens, leave their droppings on patios and decks, and roost on cars, scratching the paint," the Department of Fish and Game says on its Keep Me Wild website.

"Turkeys can become aggressive during the breeding season, occasionally even charging, threatening and acting aggressively toward people."

To avert the scourge of thug turkeys lurkey, the DFG says not to feed wild turkeys. Thanks for the warning, DFG.